List of ALL Bursaries in South Africa 2026

By | August 10, 2025
0 Comment

If you’re planning study in 2026 — first, breathe. Funding exists, and a LOT of bursaries are open right now. This guide collects the major national, corporate, university, and STEM-focused bursaries you should know about, explains who they’re for, and gives practical next steps so you can apply without losing your mind.

Quick note: I linked the official program pages and leading bursary portals below — always confirm deadlines and eligibility on the sponsor’s official site before you apply.

Why this list matters (and how to use it)

There’s no single “one-stop” fund for everyone. Government funds, corporate bursaries (companies that sponsor specific degrees or fields), university-managed grants, and NGO or trust-funded scholarships all run on different cycles. Use this post to:

  • Find programs that match your course and background
  • Prioritize applications (start with programs that match your degree + have early deadlines)
  • Use the checklist at the end so your application isn’t rejected for missing documents

Top national / government-backed bursaries

1. NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme)

NSFAS remains the largest public student funding scheme for eligible South African students at public universities and TVET colleges. It covers tuition for qualifying students and provides allowances for accommodation, books and a living allowance in certain cases — but note: NSFAS funding rules (especially for postgraduate students) have changed over time, so always verify current coverage and application windows on NSFAS’s official site. nsfas.org.za+1

Major corporate bursaries (big sponsors to watch for 2026)

Corporates often fund degrees that build their talent pipelines (engineering, commerce, IT, finance, mining, etc.). Here are widely available corporate bursaries that typically open for the 2026 academic year:

  • Sasol Bursaries — engineering, chemical sciences and related STEM fields; comprehensive packages often include tuition, a stipend and development support. Applications for the 2026 intake have been promoted on Sasol’s bursary pages. sasolbursaries.comsasol.com
  • Investec Tertiary Bursary Programme — finance, commerce and related fields; Investec usually partners with StudyTrust and opens September–October for the following year’s intake. Investec+1
  • KPMG / Big Four bursaries — KPMG and other large professional services firms (Deloitte, PwC, EY) run bursaries for accounting and finance-related degrees (often with vacation work or employment pathways). Aggregators list KPMG bursaries with estimated packages and deadlines. All Bursaries
  • Mining & resources (Anglo American, Rio Tinto, etc.) — mining companies sponsor engineering, geology, and environmental science studies; keep an eye on company careers pages and bursary portals. graduates24.comBusinessTech
  • Banks & insurance (Standard Bank, FirstRand, Old Mutual, Santam) — commerce, IT, actuarial and data/analytics bursaries through corporate CSI (corporate social investment) programmes and partner trusts. studytrust.org.zaBusinessTech

University & research agency bursaries

Universities run their own bursary & financial aid offices; many also host faculty or research bursaries:

  • University bursaries (UCT, UJ, UP, Wits, Stellenbosch, etc.) — each university lists bursaries and internal funding portals; some partner with foundations for targetted support (e.g., faculty-specific bursaries). Example: University of Pretoria has bursary PDFs and foundation partnerships for the 2026 intake. University of Pretoria
  • SANSA (South African National Space Agency) — science/postgraduate bursaries for STEM fields; SANSA publishes postgraduate bursary application steps and eligibility. sansa.org.za+1
  • South African Reserve Bank & Research Scholarships — targeted master’s or research scholarships (e.g., data science/ML scholarships) appear periodically; check the SARB site for 2026-specific postings. South African Reserve Bank

Provincial, municipal & special programmes

  • Masakh’iSizwe (Western Cape and other provinces) — provincial government bursary programmes for students in priority fields. Deadlines and application windows vary by province. nstf.org.za
  • Industry trusts and foundations — e.g., Motsepe Foundation, IDC bursary schemes, and targeted sector trusts like the Potato Industry Development Trust — these often fund agriculture, enterprise and technical skills relevant to the sponsor. IDC

Aggregators & portals — save yourself time

Instead of visiting every company site, use reputable bursary aggregators that collect active bursaries and deadlines (but still use them as a pointer — always click through to the official sponsor page before you apply):

  • ZABursaries — lists general and program-specific bursaries for 2026. Zabursaries+1
  • AllBursaries / Graduates24 / StudyTrust — large portals that summarize bursary value, eligibility and closing dates (common closing windows are August–October for many corporate/university bursaries). graduates24.comAll Bursariesstudytrust.org.za

Popular bursaries by field (shortlist)

If you want to focus, here’s where to look by subject:

  • Engineering & mining: Sasol, Anglo American, Rio Tinto, mining company trusts. sasolbursaries.comgraduates24.com
  • Commerce & accounting: KPMG, Investec, banking group bursaries. All BursariesInvestec
  • Technology & data science: Accenture Education Trust, company tech scholarships, SARB data science scholarship. AccentureSouth African Reserve Bank
  • Health & medicine: University medical bursaries, MRC, health science trusts (varies by institution). (Search university funding pages.)
  • Agriculture & environment: Potatoes SA bursary, industry trusts.

Real-world tips to boost your chances (conversational, practical)

Okay, here’s the human talk — what actually helps you win a bursary:

  1. Apply early and apply widely. Many programmes close between July and October for the following year — but a few run rolling applications. Use aggregators to find last-minute openings. studytrust.org.za
  2. Match your degree and your story. Companies fund degrees that help them (engineering for energy firms, commerce for banks). Tailor your application and personal statement to show alignment — don’t write a generic essay.
  3. Prepare supporting documents ahead of time: ID, Matric certificate, latest academic transcript, proof of residence, parents’/household income affidavit (if asked), motivation letter, CV. Missing docs = instant disqualification.
  4. Get references early. Line managers and teachers who can speak about academic ability or community leadership are gold.
  5. Don’t forget eligibility filters (province, school feeder agreements, family income caps, minimum averages) — read the small print.

Quick bursary application checklist (copy + paste)

  • Official ID (smartcard or certified copy)
  • Latest academic transcripts & Matric certificate
  • Proof of residence / municipal account or affidavit
  • Proof of household income / parents’ payslips or affidavit
  • CV (1–2 pages) and motivation letter tailored to the sponsor
  • Two referees with contact details
  • Any required portfolio (for creative degrees) or additional tests completed
  • Save copies (PDF) and track the portal submission receipt

Where to check and how to verify (important)

Always apply through the sponsor’s official platform or a trusted portal that links to the sponsor’s page. For most load-bearing sources in this article you can start here:

Final checklist before you hit “submit”

  • One final read-through of the eligibility criteria (you’ll thank me).
  • Ensure attachments are clearly named (e.g., Surname_Name_ID.pdf) and under portal size limits.
  • Take a screenshot of the final submission/portal confirmation number — store it in a safe folder.
  • Set a calendar reminder for interviews or psychometric tests (some sponsors invite shortlisted candidates quickly).

References & further reading

(Click through to confirm current deadlines and any updated eligibility rules.)

  • NSFAS — official student funding and bursary information. nsfas.org.za+1
  • Sasol Bursaries — Sasol opportunities for South African youth (2026 intake info). sasolbursaries.comsasol.com
  • Investec bursary programme (Tertiary Bursary Programme; applications often via StudyTrust). Investec+1
  • Aggregator: ZABursaries — lists many 2026 bursary openings. Zabursaries+1
  • AllBursaries & Graduates24 — portal listings for KPMG, Transnet, Toyota and many corporate bursaries. All Bursariesgraduates24.com
  • SANSA bursaries & application page (postgraduate STEM bursaries). sansa.org.za+1
  • SARB data science & machine learning scholarship (example of specialised research funding). South African Reserve Bank
  • BusinessTech article summarising major companies offering bursaries for 2026 (helpful snapshot). BusinessTech